U.S. patent application number 17/492452 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-14 for recording apparatus and retaining container.
The applicant listed for this patent is CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Yuta Araki, Shota Asada, Tetsu Hamano, Koya Iwakura, Fumie Kameyama, Taiji Maruyama, Hideaki Matsumura, Atsushi Matsuyama, Yusuke Naratani, Koki Shimada, Daiju Takeda, Ken Takenaga, Kousuke Tanaka, Yusuke Tanaka, Nobuhiro Toki.
Application Number | 20220111650 17/492452 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-14 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220111650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tanaka; Yusuke ; et
al. |
April 14, 2022 |
RECORDING APPARATUS AND RETAINING CONTAINER
Abstract
A recording apparatus includes a recovery unit, a retaining
container, and a first portion. The recovery unit performs recovery
operation to recover a recording head to eject liquid. The
retaining container is removably installed in the recording
apparatus and retains liquid discharged from the recovery unit. The
first portion comes in contact with a second portion on the
retaining container. To put the retaining container into a
restricted state in which movement of the retaining container in a
first direction is restricted, the first portion comes in contact
with the second portion in a middle of removal of the retaining
container in the first direction from an installed state in which
the retaining container is installed in the recording
apparatus.
Inventors: |
Tanaka; Yusuke; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Iwakura; Koya; (Kanagawa, JP) ;
Matsumura; Hideaki; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Hamano;
Tetsu; (Tokyo, JP) ; Toki; Nobuhiro;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Takeda; Daiju; (Kanagawa, JP)
; Kameyama; Fumie; (Tokyo, JP) ; Shimada;
Koki; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Asada; Shota; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Takenaga; Ken; (Kanagawa, JP) ; Araki;
Yuta; (Chiba, JP) ; Maruyama; Taiji;
(Kanagawa, JP) ; Matsuyama; Atsushi; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Naratani; Yusuke; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tanaka;
Kousuke; (Kanagawa, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/492452 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2021 |
International
Class: |
B41J 2/165 20060101
B41J002/165 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 9, 2020 |
JP |
2020-170871 |
Claims
1. A recording apparatus comprising: a recovery unit configured to
perform recovery operation to recover a recording head to eject
liquid; a retaining container configured to be removably installed
in the recording apparatus and to retain liquid discharged from the
recovery unit; and a first portion configured to come in contact
with a second portion on the retaining container, wherein, to put
the retaining container into a restricted state in which movement
of the retaining container in a first direction is restricted, the
first portion comes in contact with the second portion in a middle
of removal of the retaining container in the first direction from
an installed state in which the retaining container is installed in
the recording apparatus.
2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
retaining container includes a take-in portion in which liquid
discharged from the recovery unit is taken in, and wherein a length
of the take-in portion in the first direction is greater than a
length from the second portion to the first portion in the first
direction in the installed state.
3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
retaining container in a second direction different from the first
direction, the retaining container is released from the restricted
state.
4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising
a conveyance unit configured to convey, in a conveyance direction,
a recording medium on which recording is to be performed by the
recording head, wherein the first direction is a direction opposite
to the conveyance direction.
5. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second
direction is in an upward gravitational direction.
6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, by moving
the retaining container in a second direction different from the
first direction, the retaining container is released from the
restricted state, and wherein the first direction is a rotation
direction around the second direction.
7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
retaining container includes a take-in portion in which liquid
discharged from the recovery unit is taken in, and wherein a length
of the take-in portion in the first direction is greater than a
length from the second portion to the first portion in the first
direction in the installed state.
8. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
a detection unit configured to detect the retaining container in
the installed state.
9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in
response to a detection of the retaining container not in the
installed state by the detection unit, the recovery operation is
stopped.
10. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
retaining container includes a positioning surface that faces a
center in a direction intersecting the first direction, and
wherein, to be positioned in the intersecting direction, the
positioning surface of the retaining container comes in contact
with a guide of the recording apparatus.
11. The recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the
positioning surface is at both ends of the retaining container in
the intersecting direction.
12. A retaining container removably installed in a recording
apparatus, wherein the recording apparatus includes a recovery unit
to perform recovery operation to recover a recording head to eject
liquid, and the retaining container is to retain liquid discharged
from the recovery unit, the retaining container comprising: a
second portion configured to come in contact with a first portion
in the recording apparatus, wherein, to put the retaining container
into a restricted state in which movement of the retaining
container in a first direction is restricted, the second portion
and the first portion come in contact with each other in a middle
of removal of the retaining container in the first direction from
an installed state in which the retaining container is installed in
the recording apparatus.
13. The retaining container according to claim 12, further
comprising a take-in portion in which liquid discharged from the
recovery unit is taken in, wherein a length of the take-in portion
in the first direction is greater than a length from the second
portion to the first portion in the first direction in the
installed state.
14. The retaining container according to claim 12, wherein, by
moving the retaining container in a second direction different from
the first direction, the retaining container is released from the
restricted state.
15. The retaining container according to claim 14, wherein the
recording apparatus further includes a conveyance unit configured
to convey, in a conveyance direction, a recording medium on which
recording is to be performed by the recording head, and wherein the
first direction is a direction opposite to the conveyance
direction.
16. The retaining container according to claim 14, wherein the
second direction is in an upward gravitational direction.
17. The retaining container according to claim 12, wherein, by
moving the retaining container in a second direction different from
the first direction, the retaining container is released from the
restricted state, and wherein the first direction is a rotation
direction around the second direction.
18. The retaining container according to claim 17, further
comprising a take-in portion in which liquid discharged from the
recovery unit is taken in, wherein a length of the take-in portion
in the first direction is greater than a length from the second
portion to the first portion in the first direction in the
installed state.
19. The retaining container according to claim 12, further
comprising a positioning surface that faces a center in a direction
intersecting the first direction, wherein, to be positioned in the
intersecting direction, the positioning surface of the retaining
container comes in contact with a guide of the recording
apparatus.
20. The retaining container according to claim 19, wherein the
positioning surface is at both ends of the retaining container in
the intersecting direction.
Description
BACKGROUND
Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to recording apparatuses
recording images, and to a retaining container used in a recording
apparatus.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] An inkjet recording apparatus performs a recovery operation
including suction of ink to maintain discharge performance of the
recording head. Some inkjet recording apparatuses include a
replaceable waste ink tank to contain and retain waste ink produced
by the recovery operation.
[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-334110
discusses an inkjet recording apparatus having a configuration in
which, when a user removes the waste ink tank, the waste-ink
temporarily receiving mechanism to receive ink dripping from an ink
tube is moved under the ink tube. This configuration prevents waste
ink from leaking to the outside of the apparatus as the waste-ink
temporarily receiving mechanism receives waste ink in the removal
of the waste ink tank during a recovery operation. The
configuration discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
No. H11-334110, however, entails including a separate waste-ink
temporarily receiving mechanism and an area for the mechanism to
move in the apparatus for easy removal of the waste ink tank by a
user, which can cause upsizing and complication of the
apparatus.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure is directed to a recording apparatus
that restricts operation of removing a retaining container.
[0005] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a
recording apparatus includes a recovery unit configured to perform
recovery operation to recover a recording head to eject liquid, a
retaining container configured to be removably installed in the
recording apparatus and to retain liquid discharged from the
recovery unit, and a first portion configured to come in contact
with a second portion on the retaining container, wherein, to put
the retaining container into a restricted state in which movement
of the retaining container in a first direction is restricted, the
first portion comes in contact with the second portion in a middle
of removal of the retaining container in the first direction from
an installed state in which the retaining container is installed in
the recording apparatus.
[0006] Further features of the present disclosure will become
apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments
with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an internal
configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus according to a first
exemplary embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of
the inkjet recording apparatus according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a recovery unit
according to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0010] FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams each illustrating a
configuration of a waste ink tank according to the first exemplary
embodiment.
[0011] FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic cross-sectional views
illustrating an operation of removing the waste ink tank according
to the first exemplary embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation when the
waste ink tank is removed during a recovery operation according to
the first exemplary embodiment.
[0013] FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional views
illustrating an operation of removing a waste ink tank according to
a second exemplary embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be
described below with reference to drawings. The following exemplary
embodiments do not intend to limit the present disclosure, and not
all of the combinations of features described in the exemplary
embodiments are used in the solution of the present disclosure.
Further, relative arrangement, shapes, etc. of components described
in the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative, and do not
intend to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
<Apparatus Configuration>
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an internal
configuration of an inkjet recording apparatus (hereinafter,
recording apparatus) 50 according to a first exemplary embodiment.
The recording apparatus 50 includes a recording head 4 that
performs recording operation to record images by ejecting ink to
recording media. The recording apparatus 50 includes a cover (not
illustrated) openable/closable for a housing, and FIG. 1
illustrates the configuration with the cover opened. The cover may
include a scanner unit that can read documents.
[0016] In the recording apparatus 50, recording media placed on a
sheet feeding tray 5 at the back side are separated one by one, and
are fed by a sheet feeding roller (not illustrated) serving as a
feeding unit. Each recording medium fed by the feeding roller is
conveyed to a recording position facing a recording head 4 by a
conveyance roller 1 serving as a conveyance unit and a pinch roller
2 driven by the conveyance roller 1.
[0017] The recording apparatus 50 further includes a platen 3 at a
position facing the recording head 4. The back surface of the
recording medium conveyed to the recording position is supported by
the platen 3. The recording head 4 performs recording on the
recording medium based on data at the recording position. The
recording medium that has undergone the recording performed by the
recording head 4 is discharged by a discharge roller (not
illustrated) to the outside of the recording apparatus 50.
[0018] In the present exemplary embodiment, the direction (+Y
direction illustrated in FIG. 1) in which the recording medium is
conveyed by the conveyance unit is referred to as a conveyance
direction. In other words, the back side of the recording apparatus
50 lies upstream in the conveyance direction; the front side lies
downstream. Further, the upside of the gravitational direction lies
in the Z direction.
[0019] The recording head 4 is mounted to a carriage 7 that
reciprocates in the main scanning direction (X direction
illustrated in FIG. 1) intersecting the conveyance direction. In
the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyance direction (+Y
direction) and the main scanning direction (X direction) are
orthogonal to each other. The recording head 4 ejects ink droplets
while being moved with the carriage 7 in the main scanning
direction, thereby recording an image with a predetermined length
(one band) on the recording medium (recording operation). After the
one band image is recorded, the recording medium is conveyed by a
predetermined amount by the conveyance roller 1 and the pinch
roller 2 (intermittent conveyance operation). The recording
operation by one band and the intermittent conveyance operation are
repeated to record the whole image on the entire recording medium
based on image data.
[0020] Further, the recording head 4 according to the present
exemplary embodiment includes a unit (e.g., heating resistance
element) generating heat energy as energy used for ink ejection,
and uses a system causing a state change of the ink (film boiling)
by the heat energy. This achieves high density and high definition
of image recording. The recording head of the present exemplary
embodiment is not limited to the system using heat energy, and may
include a piezoelectric element to use vibrational energy.
[0021] In the present exemplary embodiment, an example of a serial
head in which the recording head 4 is mounted to the carriage 7 is
described; however, the recording head of the present exemplary
embodiment is not limited thereto and a line head in which a
plurality of ejection ports is arranged in the area corresponding
to the width of the recording medium can be used.
[0022] Further, ink may be supplied to the recording head 4 through
a tube supply system in which ink is supplied from an ink tank
fixed to the recording apparatus 50 through a tube or the like, or
through an on-carriage system in which ink is supplied from an ink
tank mounted to the carriage 7 together with the recording head 4.
Further, as a tube supply system, a system may be used in which a
user injects ink from an ink replenishment container such as an ink
bottle to an ink tank.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of
the recording apparatus 50. A microprocessor unit (MPU) 201
performs the general control of the recording apparatus 50, such as
the operation of each unit and data processing. A read only memory
(ROM) 202 stores programs to be run by the MPU 201 and various
kinds of data. A random access memory (RAM) 203 temporarily stores
data to be processed by the MPU 201 and data received from a host
computer 214.
[0024] The recording head 4 is controlled by a recording head
driver 207. A carriage motor 204 to drive the carriage 7 is
controlled by a carriage motor driver 208. The conveyance roller 1
and the discharge roller are driven by a conveyance motor 205. The
conveyance motor 205 is controlled by a conveyance motor driver
209.
[0025] The host computer 214 includes a printer driver 2141. In
response to an instruction of recording operation issued by a user,
the printer driver 2141 collects an image to be recorded and
recording information such as image quality, and communicates with
the recording apparatus 50. The MPU 201 sends or receives the image
to be recorded and other information to or from the host computer
214 through an interface (I/F) unit 213. The recording apparatus 50
further includes an operation display unit 211 on which the user
can perform operations such as an instruction input to the
recording apparatus 50. The operation display unit 211 can show
notifications to the user by displaying an error that has occurred
or other information on the recording apparatus 50 or other
messages.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a recovery unit 11
in the recording apparatus 50. The recovery unit 11 is a unit to
perform recovery operation to maintain ejection performance of the
recording head 4. The recovery unit 11 includes a cap 20 capping
ejection ports (not illustrated) of the recording head 4 in which
the ejection ports to eject ink are provided. The recording head 4
according to the present exemplary embodiment includes two types of
recording heads, namely, a black recording head to eject black ink
and a color recording head to eject color ink, and the black
recording head and the color recording head have ejection ports.
Thus, the cap 20 includes a black cap 20K for the black recording
head and a color cap 20C for the color recording head. In the
following, the two caps are collectively referred to as the cap
20.
[0027] The recovery unit 11 further includes a suction tube 21
connected to the cap 20, a suction pump 22 to suction ink from the
recording head 4 through the suction tube 21, and a waste ink tank
51 as an ink retaining container that retains the suctioned waste
ink. The suction tube 21 includes a black suction tube 21K
connected to the black cap 20K, and a color suction tube 21C
connected to the color cap 20C. The suction tubes 21K and 21C are
both connected to a flow channel member 23, and the flow channel
member 23 takes the waste ink in the openings (described below) of
the waste ink tank 51.
[0028] The recovery operation on the recording head 4 includes
suction operation to drive the suction pump 22 to suction ink from
the ejection ports with the ejection ports tightly capped by the
cap 20. This suction operation forces air bubbles and sticky ink in
the ejection ports to be suctioned and discharged out.
[0029] The recovery operation further includes preliminary ejection
operation in which ink not used for recording operation is ejected
from the recording head 4 with the recording head 4 facing the cap
20. The recording head 4 according to the present exemplary
embodiment performs preliminary ejection to the cap 20; however,
the recording head 4 may perform preliminary ejection to an ink
receiving portion different from the cap 20. Preliminary ejection
operation forces sticky ink in the ejection ports to be discharged
out. The ink preliminarily ejected to the cap 20 is discharged to
the waste ink tank 51 by driving of the suction pump 22.
[0030] The waste ink tank 51 according to the present exemplary
embodiment functions as an ink retaining container removably
installed to the recording apparatus 50. The user installs the
waste ink tank 51 in the recording apparatus 50 in the +Y
direction, and removes the waste ink tank 51 from the recording
apparatus 50 in the -Y direction. The waste ink tank 51 according
to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in detail
below.
[0031] FIGS. 4A and 4B are detailed diagrams each illustrating the
waste ink tank 51 according to the present exemplary embodiment.
FIG. 4A is a top perspective view of the waste ink tank 51, and
FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the waste ink tank 51. The waste ink
tank 51 includes an absorber 52 that absorbs and retains waste ink,
a substantially box-shaped container portion 53 that has an
openable upper portion and houses the absorber 52, and a lid
portion 54 attached covering an opening of the container portion
53.
[0032] The top surface, or the lid portion 54 of the waste ink tank
51 includes waste ink take-in portion (opening portion) 54a to take
waste ink from the flow channel member 23 into the container
portion 53. The waste ink take-in portion 54a includes a black ink
take-in portion 54aK to take in waste ink discharged from the black
suction tube 21K, and a color ink take-in portion 54aC to take in
waste ink discharged from the color suction tube 21C. The black ink
take-in portion 54aK and the color ink take-in portion 54aC are
separated from each other.
[0033] Waste ink suctioned by the suction pump 22 is taken from the
flow channel member 23 into the inside of the waste ink tank 51
through the waste ink take-in portion 54a, and is absorbed and
retained in the absorber 52. When the total amount of waste ink
measured by a waste ink counter included in the control unit (MPU
201) of the recording apparatus 50 exceeds a predetermined amount,
the user is urged to replace the waste ink tank 51 through display
on the operation display unit 211, etc. The user takes out the
waste ink tank 51 filled up with waste ink from the recording
apparatus 50, and installs a new waste ink tank in place of the
waste ink tank 51. The waste ink counter counts the amount of waste
ink discharged to the waste ink tank 51 through the suction
operation and the preliminary ejection operation performed as
recovery operation.
[0034] The container portion 53 includes an operation portion 53a
(see FIG. 4A) in the top surface. The operation portion 53a is
operable by the user in installation and removal of the waste ink
tank 51 to and from the recording apparatus 50. Further, the
container portion 53 includes an engagement portions 53b (see FIG.
4B) on the bottom surface. The engagement portions 53b are engaged
with the recording apparatus 50 in the middle of the removal of the
waste ink tank 51. Two engagement portions 53b each are provided at
either end in the X direction, protruding downward from the bottom
surface of the container portion 53 (waste ink tank 51). However,
the number of engagement portions 53b is not limited to two.
[0035] The recording apparatus 50 includes a detection unit 50a
(see FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5A to 5D) to detect whether the waste ink
tank 51 is installed in place. The container portion 53 includes a
detected portion 53c to be detected by the detection unit 50a. The
detection unit 50a detects the waste ink tank 51 installed in place
with the detection unit 50a in contact with the detected portion
53c; otherwise, the detection unit 50a detects the waste ink tank
51 out of place with the detection unit 50a out of contact with the
detected portion 53c (in a not-installed state).
[0036] The recording apparatus 50 controls driving of the suction
pump 22 based on the result of detection by the detection unit 50a.
More specifically, if the detection unit 50a detects the waste ink
tank 51 installed in place, the recording apparatus 50 can drive
the suction pump 22. Otherwise, if the detection unit 50a detects
the waste ink tank 51 not installed in place, the recording
apparatus 50 stops driving of the suction pump 22.
[0037] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, two positioning surfaces
53d both ends of the container portion 53 in the X direction are
used to position the waste ink tank 51 in the X direction with
respect to the recording apparatus 50. The positioning surfaces 53d
face each other in the X direction. The waste ink tank 51 installed
therein is positioned in contact with the guides extending in the Y
direction on the bottom of the housing of the recording apparatus
50. This configuration prevents abnormal wear (galling) of the
container portion 53 and provides an easier installation operation
by a user as compared with the case where the positioning surfaces
53d are provided on the outer edge surface of the container portion
53.
[0038] In the present exemplary embodiment, the configuration
including the two positioning surfaces 53d has been described;
however, the number of positioning surfaces 53d is not limited
thereto. If the surfaces faces the center of the waste ink tank 51
in the X direction are the positioning surfaces 53d, wear of the
outer edge surface of the container portion 53 can be reduced.
[0039] FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic cross-sectional views
illustrating operation of removing the waste ink tank 51 according
to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart
illustrating operation of the recording apparatus 50 when the waste
ink tank 51 is removed during recovery operation.
[0040] FIG. 5A illustrates the waste ink tank 51 installed in the
recording apparatus 50. In this state, the waste ink take-in
portion 54a is positioned below (just below) the flow channel
member 23. Further, the detection unit 50a and the detected portion
53c is in contact with each other, allowing the recording apparatus
50 to operate the suction pump 22. In recovery operation, the
recording apparatus 50 drives the suction pump 22. Waste ink
discharged from the flow channel member 23 in the recovery
operation is taken in the inside of the waste ink tank 51 through
the waste ink take-in portion 54a just below the flow channel
member 23.
[0041] FIGS. 5B to 5D are diagrams each illustrating a state in the
operation of removing the waste ink tank 51 performed by the user
in order. As illustrated in FIG. 5B, the waste ink tank 51 starts
moving in the -Y direction by the removal operation by the
user.
[0042] The operation in FIG. 6 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 5A to 5D. In the state illustrated in FIG. 5B during the
recovery operation, the detected portion 53c is separated from the
detection unit 50a, and, in step S11, the MPU 201 detects the waste
ink tank 51 in the not-installed state. Just after the removal
operation by the user starts, the waste ink take-in portion 54a is
just below the flow channel member 23 as illustrated in FIG. 5B,
waste ink, if discharged from the flow channel member 23, falls in
the waste ink take-in portion 54a. This prevents waste ink from
leaking to the outside of the waste ink tank 51.
[0043] In step S12, the MPU 201 issues an instruction to stop
driving of the suction pump 22 (recovery operation). In step S13,
driving of the suction pump 22 is stopped by stop of the motor
driving the suction pump 22. In step S14, the MPU 201 notifies the
user that the waste ink tank 51 is in the not-installed state. More
specifically, the MPU 201 may display an error on the operation
display unit 211, or may perform notification to the user through
the host computer 214.
[0044] If the removal operation of the waste ink tank 51 by the
user is continued in parallel with the above-described operation,
the engagement portions 53b of the waste ink tank 51 and engagement
portions 50b of the recording apparatus 50 engage with each other
as illustrated in FIG. 5C. As a result, the movement of the waste
ink tank 51 is temporarily restricted in the -Y direction. Even in
the restricted state, the waste ink take-in portion 54a is just
below the flow channel member 23. This allows waste ink discharged
from the flow channel member 23 to fall in the waste ink take-in
portion 54a, preventing the ink from leaking to the outside of the
waste ink tank 51 and the outside of the recording apparatus
50.
[0045] The user can release the engagement between the engagement
portions 53b and the engagement portions 50b by lifting the waste
ink tank 51 in the restricted state upward (+Z direction), and
continue the removal operation in the -Y direction again. FIG. 5D
illustrates the completion of the removal operation on the waste
ink tank 51 by the user after the release of the engagement between
the engagement portions 53b and the engagement portions 50b.
[0046] Although the processing in steps S11 to S13 in FIG. 6 is
normally performed in no time substantially, waste ink flowing
through the suction tube 21 continuously flows to the flow channel
member 23 and the waste ink tank 51 even after the suction pump 22
is stopped in step S13. As for this issue, the members restricting
movement of the waste ink tank 51 in the removal direction provided
as in the present exemplary embodiment allow the waste ink flowing
out of the flow channel member 23 to fall in the waste ink take-in
portion 54a. In other words, even if a time lag occurs in the
processing time in steps S11 to S13 in FIG. 6, the positional
relationship for waste ink to be taken into the waste ink tank 51
is maintained until the operation of the suction pump 22 and the
flow of waste ink are stopped. This prevents waste ink from leaking
to the outside of the waste ink tank 51 and the outside of the
recording apparatus 50.
[0047] For the above-described configuration, the length L1 of the
waste ink take-in portion 54a in the Y direction is designed to be
greater than or equal to the length (distance) L2 from the
engagement portions 53b to the engagement portions 50b
(L1.gtoreq.L2) in the installed state. Further, the direction
(upward direction) to release the engagement between the engagement
portions 50b and the engagement portions 53b is different from the
removal direction (direction opposite to conveyance direction) of
the waste ink tank 51 allows a temporary restriction of the
operation of removing the waste ink tank 51 by the user.
[0048] A second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will
be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B. FIGS. 7A and 7B are
perspective views illustrating operation of removing the waste ink
tank 51 according to the second exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7A
illustrates the waste ink tank 51 installed in place, and FIG. 7B
illustrates a temporary restriction. The waste ink tank 51
according to the second exemplary embodiment has a columnar shape,
and an engagement portion 53b and a detected portion 53c are at one
end part of the column in the axial direction.
[0049] The user rotates the waste ink tank 51 by a predetermined
angle in the counterclockwise direction (.theta. direction) as one
rotation direction around the axial direction of the waste ink tank
51 in the installed state illustrated in FIG. 7A. This rotation
causes the engagement portion 50b and the engagement portion 53b to
engage with each other as illustrated in FIG. 7B, which prevents
further rotation. Thereafter, the user moves the waste ink tank 51
in the -Y direction parallel to the axial direction of the waste
ink tank 51, completing the removal operation.
[0050] The flow channel member 23 and the opening of the waste ink
take-in portion 54a face each other to receive waste ink flowing
out of the flow channel member 23 in either the installed state
illustrated in FIG. 7A or the restricted state illustrated in FIG.
7B. In other words, the central angle .alpha. of the fan shape in
the side portion corresponding to the arc of the opening of the
waste ink take-in portion 54a is greater than a predetermined
rotation angle (about 90 degrees in the second exemplary
embodiment) of the waste ink tank 51 rotated to change the state
from the installed state to the restricted state by the user. This
prevents waste ink from leaking to the outside of the waste ink
tank 51 and the outside of the recording apparatus 50.
[0051] As described above, the removal direction from the installed
state to the restricted state and the removal direction to release
the restricted state different from each other reduces leakage of
the waste ink.
[0052] Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized
by a computer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes
computer executable instructions (e.g., one or more programs)
recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred to more
fully as a `non-transitory computer-readable storage medium`) to
perform the functions of one or more of the above-described
embodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g.,
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the
functions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and
by a method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus
by, for example, reading out and executing the computer executable
instructions from the storage medium to perform the functions of
one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controlling
the one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of
the above-described embodiment(s). The computer may include one or
more processors (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), micro
processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network of separate
computers or separate processors to read out and execute the
computer executable instructions. The computer executable
instructions may be provided to the computer, for example, from a
network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include, for
example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM),
a read-only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing
systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital
versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD).TM.), a flash memory
device, a memory card, and the like.
[0053] While the present disclosure has been described with
reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent structures and functions.
[0054] This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent
Application No. 2020-170871, filed Oct. 9, 2020, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
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